Drivers on the hook for expired plates after Service Ontario glitch

If you count on the province to remind you to renew your driver’s licence or plates, you might want to sneak a peek at your vehicle.

About 100,000 Ontarians didn’t get their customary renew-now letter from Service Ontario before the end of July — and as many as half those people might still be driving around with expired plates.

Normally, people with birthdays in mid-July would have received reminder notes in the mail in mid-April.

But, somehow, there was a glitch and those letters were never printed.

“We’re still investigating what the exact cause was,” said spokesperson Anne-Marie Flanagan.

Last Thursday, letters finally went out to 50,000 people who hadn’t already renewed — the other 50,000 had apparently figured out renewals come due on their birthdays — to apologize and encourage drivers to renew their licences and plate stickers.

Meanwhile, those overlooked thousands shouldn’t expect the government’s brain cramp to give them a break if they’re stopped by police for driving with expired plates and identification, Flanagan said.

“Keeping documents up-to-date is ultimately the responsibility of the individual,” and ServiceOntario sends reminders only as a courtesy, she said.

The only leeway offered is for those who need both renewed licences and a vehicle emissions test: they won’t have to pay $20 for the 10-day temporary sticker they’ll have to request in person from their licensing office.